I love breweries, they're one of my favorite excuses for getting out of the city and exploring a new area. I've been to many of the breweries that are accessible via public transit from Philly and I've put my visits together below along with some tips if you're thinking of going! I still have a few other breweries I'd like to visit (Sly Fox I'm looking at you!) and there always seem to be more popping up all around Philly.

In Philadelphia

1. Yards Brewing Company

I've written about Yards previously, but it's one brewery I go back to again and again both with visiting friends and without. The tour is free and you always get lots of samples and an entertaining tour guide. The tours last 30 minutes and you'll get to see not only where the beer is produced, but where they keg/bottle the beer and a quick walk through the fridge where it is stored (much more refreshing in the summer than the winter!). The highlight of the building is the brew pub area where you can enjoy their food on some days (others they have a variety of food trucks visiting) as well as full and tasting sizes of their beers.

Some tips for when you visit:

Get there early, between noon and two, to ensure you get on the tour and have time to sample some beers before and after of course!

The kitchen is only open during Monday - Friday but its worth a seperate trip just to try their Homemade Bison & Beef chili -- the bison is from a local farm that uses Yards' grains to feed their cattle. The circle of beer!

Their ales of the revolution are based off of the beers the Founding Fathers would have drank. My favorite is the Tavern Spruce. Definitely fun to sample them all especially for a visiting tourist.

2. Dock Street Brewery

If you come here, make sure to try the pizza! This is such a great Spring/Summer spot to eat outside and watch the hustle and bustle of West Philadelphia. They also feature Sunday brunch and are known for their yearly walking dead beer (brewed with roasted goat brains!). They screen films from time to time like Spaceballs, so grab a friend for a beer, pizza and movie night.

Some tips for when you visit:

They do have tours, but you have to make reservations in advance through their site. They are $4 per person but include a sweet pint glass!

There is a really cool bike shop next door to check out and on 'Dollar Stroll' night you can walk down Baltimore ave and grab some more treats from vendors for $1

3. Philadelphia Brewing Company

Located in Kennsington, this is a great brewery to visit on a lovely day as its near to some other famous Kennsington spots. They have a large space to tour and a brew pub as well where you can sample their different beers.

Some tips for when you visit:

Around Christmas they have an open bar party that is $10 and runs for a few hours. This is an awesome time and I highly recommend it!

PBC also owns Commonwealth so they have delicious ciders for you cider lovers. The raspberry cider is my favorite!

Grab a slice of pizza at Pizza Brain, some ice cream at Little Baby's icecream and then head over here for some beers -- make sure to grab some beer to go too the prices are great!

Outside of Philadelphia

4. Flying Fish

Okay, so its a NJ beer but its a quick PATCO train ride out there and it's definitely worth the excursion! The beers are top notch and they typically have a food truck on site for your pizza needs. They do make you watch a video before you are able to drink, but their variety of beers and the tour make the short video worth it.

5. Tired Hands Brewery

There are two Tired Hands locations in Ardmore, PA (again a short regional rail trip out to here). I'd suggest going to the Fermenteria, the newest building for Tired Hands. The fish tacos are phenomenal, they have an extensive beer selection, and you are basically eating and drinking on the brewing room floor which is a unique experience in itself. Careful around dinner time -- this place can have up to a 3 hour wait!

6. Victory Brewing Company

This is also a (longer) train ride away from Philly, but it is a really cool building and they have lots of the well known Victory beers as well as some rarer ones that just never make it to a bottle. The food is decent and if you are taking a tour you can get a sampler in a carrying case to bring on the tour with you! My biggest suggestion is to get here EARLY. The tours fill up fast and you may be waiting hours until your tour time. If this is the case for you, I'd say skip the tour. Its short and not really the highlight of this brewery.

7. Round Guys Brewery

Very small brewery in the Landsdale area, this brewery still has a wide variety of beers, including sours, double IPAs, and barley wines all made in house. They do samplers of 4 beers or a sampler of ALL of their beers (can be up to 20 at a time) which is great to share amongst a table. The food is simple but tasty.

8. Doylestown Brewery

Deep underground in Doylestown is the Doylestown Brewery! The setting of this brewery is really neat and I highly recommend checking it out if you're out this way. They have food available from the restaurants upstairs and a variety of lagers, pale ales, IPAs and porters, something for everyone!

WHAT IS TRUNK CLUB FOR WOMEN?

Trunk Club is a curated clothing box personally styled to your preferences. A stylist is assigned and you work with your stylist to define your style, wants, wishes and what you would like to try out. The clothing is curated from the Nordstrom stock so its high quality and very stylish.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

I signed up for theTrunk Club for Women's waitlist about 2 months ago and it took about a month to get off of the waitlist. After that, I was contacted by my assigned stylistAlle. She asked a series of questions including my style, sizing, what I was looking for in my trunk, as well as what I didn't want.

WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE?

I received 15 pieces total and they were all gorgeous! These ranged from jewelry, booties, sweaters, dresses, jeans, and pants. These are all brands that Nordstrom carries.

The pants were just not a good fit. They reminded me of leggings with a side zipper, but they were baggy and too long for my petite frame. The sweater was soft. I decided to return both as there were other things that I liked more. Returned.

Trouve Raw Edge Long Vest $78

Okay so I asked for vests for this Trunk but I was imagining J. Crew style vests that are a great layering piece but what I received was this and the vest below. I think the idea of it could work for someone but clearly not me and my short and stout body :) Returned

Dylan Vintage Faux Shearling Vest $98

I really liked these jeans but had just received a great pair in the mail that day that were similar and only cost $50 so these just didnt make the cut. This sweater was so comfortable and I liked the length for leggings, but cashmere just won't survive in my house and will be immediately washed by accident. Returned

Trouve Drape Top $48

I think this doesn't lay right across my chest so this will be sent back. Returned

Caslon Side Slit Cowl Neck Tunic $68

This actually was comfortable and I liked the fit. I requested a different color in the next fix and then I would probably buy it. Returned

AG Roll Cuff Skinny Jeans $225 and rag & bone 'Margot' Bootie $525

I was happy that these boots didn't fit if you catch my drift! They are gorgeous but rubbed my feet wrong in some places so they'll be going back but I did love them. The jeans did not fit me well with the roll and not being petite sized, so they'll be going back as well. Phew. Returned.

Ivanka Trump Space Dye Fit & Flare Sweater Dress $134

I think this is a little longer than I like my dresses to fit and for the price it just wasn't worth keeping. Returned.

Charles Henry Crepe Fit & Flare Dress $88

Couldn't get this one on. Must run very small. Returned

Rebecca Minkoff Double Tassel Pendant Necklace $88

Pretty but I don't usually buy jewelry for this much. I asked for something cheaper next time around. Returned

Here's my winning outfit! I love the sweater dress, its really well made and fitted without being too tight. The color is very fall. These booties I tried on and fell in love with even though I promised myself I wouldn't get suede boots (I live in PA -- these are not winter friendly!). They are just gorgeous though and I don't regret purchasing at all. Kept

Overall, I liked the price points that Alle picked out -- there was a nice array of luxury items and quality items as well as more practical items (sweaters etc) that were more affordable. I love this box because they send great brands and I find myself buying staples that I don't always make time to shop for but would like in my wardrobe. This service has definitely helped me to buy some more quality pieces to round out my wardrobe (purse, booties, sweater dress, jean jacket, and shirt so far).

I'm a Philadelphia resident drawn to new hobbies, restaurants, apps, and travelling! You'll find upcoming events in Philly, tips for travelling around and outside of the city, food recommendations and other topics that get me writing in this blog. I hope you enjoy!